Firm Studies Alternative To County`s Trash Plan

HOLLYWOOD — A Minneapolis-based company has been asked to conduct a free feasibility study into whether there is a proper site for a municipal garbage disposal plant within city limits.

Hollywood officials agreed on Wednesday to allow Buhler-Miag, which operates more than 100 recycling plants in Europe, to investigate the feasibility of building a garbage-disposal plant here.

Commissioners have been looking for an alternative to Broward County`s plan of building two large, regional recycling plants. The county plans to dispose of garbage in massive incinerators, the first of which is to open in May 1989.

Cities are to be asked to sign interlocal agreements to use the county`s recycling plants within the next two months. Hollywood, however, has been investigating having its own operation.

With such a short time to research the idea, City Manager James Chandler recommended that the city work with one of many companies that have contacted him about building a recycling plant. He said he suggested Buhler-Miag because of its record of success in Europe.

``Buhler-Miag understands that this is no guarantee to do the work,`` Chandler said.

Representatives of the firm are expected to arrive in a few days and should conclude their research within two weeks, he said.

Commissioner John Williams said Port Everglades seems to be the only place with land that could meet the city`s needs.

Nevertheless, Bernard Budd, executive vice president of Hollywood Inc., said his company would not sell any land at Port Everglades for a garbage dump.

Hollywood Inc. owns most of the land in the portion of the port that is located in Hollywood. That land is zoned for industrial use.

``A garbage plant would be inappropriate for that land,`` Budd said. ``Under no conditions would we consider selling it to the city, or a private company, for a garbage plant.``